Modular gardening system

ABSTRACT

A system for modular gardening including a water module having a reservoir coupled to an aperture such that water in the reservoir flows out the water module via the aperture. The system also including a plant module having a housing having an aperture arranged to transfer water with another module and further having an open region on a top surface of the housing, a first conduit within the housing coupling the aperture and a regulator, a second conduit coupled to the regulator, the second conduit providing water to one or more water absorbent layers arranged atop the second conduit, and plant life at least partially embedded in at least one of the one or more water absorbent layers and receiving light through the open region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/467,502, filed May 9, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Patent App.Ser. No. 61/483,993 for Modular Gardening System, filed May 9, 2011.Each of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a modular gardening system having plantmodules for growing plant life and water modules for providing water tothe plant modules and plant life. The plant modules and water modulesmay be constructed and interconnected as described below.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A system for modular gardening including a water module having areservoir coupled to an aperture such that water in the reservoir flowsout the water module via the aperture. The system also including a plantmodule having a housing having an aperture arranged to transfer waterwith another module and further having an open region on a top surfaceof the housing, a first conduit within the housing coupling the apertureand a regulator, a second conduit coupled to the regulator, the secondconduit providing water to one or more water absorbent layers arrangedatop the second conduit, and plant life at least partially embedded inat least one of the one or more water absorbent layers and receivinglight through the open region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of plant modules and water modules according to anaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a water module according to an aspect ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plant module according to an aspect ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lid of a plant module according to anaspect of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5, 5B, 6 and 6B are cross-sectional side views of a plant moduleaccording to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top cross-sectional view of portions of a plant moduleaccording to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of water-absorbent package according to anaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of the water-absorbent package andpillow according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the regulator according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional side views of a regulator and mainconduits according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a connector according to an aspect ofpresent disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of a connector connecting twomain conduits according to an aspect of present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a plug according to an aspect ofpresent disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of a plug sealing a main conduitfrom an aperture according to an aspect of present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view of a water module.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a water pressure regulator.

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional side view of a water pressure regulator.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a fertilizer bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a top view of plant modules 4 and water module 2 accordingto an aspect of the present disclosure. The modular gardening system ofthe present disclosure may include one or more water modules 2 and oneor more plant modules 4 that may be connectably arranged in a variety ofways. Plant modules 4 may contain one or more plants, seedlings, orplant seeds (not shown in this view) that grow when supplied with water.A user may arrange one or more plant modules 4 on a surface, then linkthose plant modules 4 together as described below. The user may coupleone or more water modules 2 to the plant modules 4 such that watermodule 2 may provide water to one or more plant modules 4, causingplants to grow. Each plant module 4 may contain one or more differenttypes of plant, such that the user may create a garden by arrangingplant modules 4 on a surface. In one aspect, plant modules 4 may notcontain soil, and plants may be grown hydroponically.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show perspective views of plant module 4 according to anaspect of the present disclosure. Plant module 4 may include lid 6 andtray 8 together serving as an enclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, tray 8 mayhave one or more apertures 14 arranged on a vertical wall portion 16 oftray 8 to receive water directly from water module 2 or indirectly viaanother plant module 4. Tray 8 may further have magnets, adhesive,Velcro, or the like (not shown) on vertical wall portion 16 tofacilitate coupling with water module 2 or another plant module 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, lid 6 may have an opening 38 on a top surfacethrough which plants may receive light and grow and removable cover 36that fits within opening 38. When removable cover 36 is present, theplants may experience increased humidity. Removable cover 36 may beremoved after a predetermined time or when plants achieve a certainsize. Removable cover 36 may be placed within opening 38, for example,during storage or transport. In one aspect, lid 6 may be (18″×18″×0.5″)(45.72 cm×45.72 cm×1.27 cm)0.10″ (0.254 cm) thick injection molded,clear plastic, and tray 8 may be (18″×18″×1.25″) (45.72 cm×45.72cm×3.175 cm) slump formed tray.

FIG. 7 shows a top cross-sectional view of portions of tray 8 of plantmodule 4 according to an aspect of the present disclosure. For ease ofview and explanation, FIG. 7 shows tray 8 and portions of plant module 4relating to transfer of water, but omits portions of plant module 4, forexample those relating to a growing medium. Tray 8 may have one or moremain conduits 10 and irrigation conduits 12. In one aspect, one or moremain conduits 10 may be coupled to and transfer water between aperture14 and regulator 22. In one non-limiting aspect of the presentdisclosure, tray 8 may have four main conduits 10 that may be arrangedto receive water from water module 2 and to transfer water to otherplant modules 4. The four main conduits 10 may extend to any side oftray 8 and may couple to water module 2 and/or another plant module 4via connector 20 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 13). In one aspect, main conduit10 may be (0.35″×0.70 linear feet) (0.889 cm×1.77 cm) extruded, clearpolyurethane tubing.

Irrigation conduit 12 may distribute water within plant module 4. In oneaspect, irrigation conduit 12 may be porous to allow water to enter tray8 and irrigate plant or seed growing within plant module 4. In onenon-limiting aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 7, fourirrigation conduits 12 may be arranged to extend from center toward thefour corners of tray 8. Main conduit 10 and/or irrigation conduit 12 maybe arranged at the bottom of tray 8. In one aspect, irrigation conduit12 may be (0.25″×0.75 linear feet) (0.635 cm×1.905 cm) porous pipe,mixture of recycled rubber and polyethylene, extruded.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show cross-sectional side views of plant module 4according to two aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 5and 6, in addition to main conduits 10, irrigation conduits 12 andregulator 22, plant module 4 may have one or more layers of materials toassist growing plants. Capillary matting 24 may be arranged atop mainconduit 10 and/or irrigation conduit 12 (not shown) and may absorb waterand provide water to pillow 28. Capillary matting 24 may be anabsorbent, synthetic, rot-proof, material that absorbs and facilitatesdistribution of water. In one aspect, capillary matting 24 may be(8.5″×8.5″×0.15″) (21.59 cm×21.59 cm×0.381 cm) die cut matting with0.25″ (0.635 cm) rounded corners. In an aspect shown in FIG. 5,secondary matting 26 may sit atop capillary matting 24 and may hold andabsorb moisture.

Secondary matting 26 may be a die cut matting and growth medium forplants, the thickness of which may be determined by the size and type ofthe plant. Secondary matting 26 retains water moisture for the plants,and the structure of the material may allow for aeration beneficial forplant growth and may provide root structure. Secondary matting 26 may bemade of coconut husks, rockwool, or polyethylene terephthalate fibers,perlite, vermiculite, or any growth medium. In one aspect, secondarymatting 26 may be (18″×18″×0.35″) (45.72 cm×45.72 cm×0.889 cm).

As further shown in FIG. 5, pillow 28 may sit atop secondary matting 26within tray 8. Pillow 28 may be removed or replaced from tray 8 of plantmodule 4, for example, to remove or change the plant(s) grown withinplant module 4. In one aspect, pillow 28 may be (18″×18″×0.5″) (45.72cm×45.72 cm×1.27 cm) and may include sphagnum peat moss and plant seeds,embedded into an erosion control blanket woven pillow. In other aspects,pillow 28 may be made from hemp, burlap, or any material that retainsmoisture, allows for proper aeration of seeds, and blocks sunlight.

In the aspect shown in FIG. 6, water-absorbent package 48 containingpillow 28 may sit atop capillary matting 24. Water-absorbent package 48is shown in more detail in FIGS. 8 and 9. Water-absorbent package 48 maycontain pillow 28. Pillow 28 may include secondary matting 26, hydrogelgranules 58, and seeds 54. Hydrogel granules 58 may provide extramoisture for the plant roots. In one aspect, water absorbent package 48sits atop capillary matting 24 (shown in FIG. 6) and receives moisturetherefrom. Seeds 54 within pillow 28 sprout roots downward intosecondary matting 26. The roots then cling to water absorbent package 48and receive moisture through the water absorbent package 48. Waterabsorbent package 48 may be a slump formed container made of a superabsorbent polymer that absorbs and retains water.

Water absorbent package 48 may have a re-sealable top 50 that allows forincreased humidity within package 48 when top 50 is sealed. When plantsgrow large enough, top 50 may be removed from package 48. When waterabsorbent package 48 and top 50 are used in this way, lid 6 may not beneeded. In this aspect, pillow 28 may be (18″×18″×0.5″) (45.72 cm×45.72cm×1.27 cm) sized woven hemp pillow. Water-absorbent package 48 may beremoved or replaced from tray 8 of plant module 4, for example, toremove or change the plant(s) grown within plant module 4.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of regulator 22 with upper apertures 42 forconnecting to main conduits 10 and lower apertures 44 for connecting toirrigation conduits 12.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show cross-sectional side views of regulator 22, mainconduits 10, and irrigation conduits 12 according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure. Regulator 22 may connect to and manage the flow ofwater between main conduits 10 and irrigation conduits 12. FIG. 11Ashows a cross-sectional side view of “dry” regulator 22 (i.e., wherelittle or no water is present) coupled to two main conduits 10 and 10′and two irrigation conduits 12. Newly added water may flow in thedirection of arrow A through main conduit 10′ into regulator 22 viaupper aperture 42. Once inside regulator 22, water may flow downwardthrough inner aperture 56 in the direction of arrow B around float 40,which is resting on a floor of regulator 22. Water then flows out lowerapertures 44 and into irrigation conduits 12 into tray 8.

FIG. 11B shows a cross-sectional side view of regulator 22 aftersufficient water is applied. When sufficient water is applied, in oneexample, approximately 2.35 liters of water, water may flow throughirrigation conduits 12, fill reservoir 52, and cause float 40 to rise indirection of arrow C and contact inner aperture 56 forming a seal andblocking the flow of water from main conduit 10′ to irrigation conduits12. Water may then flow from main conduit 10′ past sealed inner aperture56 to main conduit 10 in direction of arrow A, possibly to anothermodule if so connected. It will be understood that water may originatefrom and flow to either direction between main conduits 10′ and 10. Inone aspect, regulator 22 may be (1.125″×1.0″) injection molded plastic.

Water that enters irrigation conduit 12 exits via pores or openings inirrigation conduit 12, then settles and accumulates within reservoir 52,typically maintaining a consistent level of water within reservoir 52.In one aspect, water is then wicked upward through capillary matting 24,which helps maintain a consistent level of moisture. Seeds within pillow28 sprout downward into secondary matting 26 and receive moisture fromcapillary matting 24.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of two-ribbed connector 20 according toan aspect of present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 13, connector 20 maybe inserted in apertures 14 and 14 a of two modules to facilitate watertransfer between the two modules, such as two plant modules 4, two watermodules 2 or between water module 2 and plant module 4. Connector 20 mayconnect main conduit 10 of tray 8 of a first plant module 4 with mainconduit 10 a of tray 8 a of a second plant module 4 a, thereby allowingwater to flow between the modules. In one aspect, connector 20 may be(0.60″×0.40″×0.40″) (1.52 cm×1.01 cm×1.01 cm) injection molded plastic.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, plug 30 may fit into aperture 14 to preventtransfer of water out of a module, for example when aperture 14 is notconnected to another module, such as water module 2 or another plantmodule 4. Plug 30 may be (0.30″×0.45″×0.45″) (0.762 cm×1.14 cm×1.14 cm)injection molded plastic. In another aspect, plug 30 may be sized andconfigured to fit within connector 20 when connector is present inaperture 14.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of water module 2 according to an aspectof the present disclosure. Water module 2 may be connected to plantmodule 4 via one or more connectors 20 as described above. Water module2 may have lid 32 allowing access to an internal water reservoir 46.Water in reservoir may be gravity fed through water module 2 outaperture 34 via connector 20 to plant module 4. In one aspect, watermodule 2 may be (18″×18″×12.5″) (45.72 cm×45.72 cm×31.75 cm)0.10″ (0.25cm) thick injection molded plastic such as polypropylene and may beformed using an injection molding process. FIG. 16 shows across-sectional side view of water module 2 according to one aspect inwhich reservoir 46 couples to tray 8, which was described in connectionwith plant module 4 above. In that aspect, water may travel throughregulator 22 and out aperture 34 via main conduit 10.

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of a water pressure regulator 60. Waterpressure regulator 60 is an optional component that may connect to afaucet or garden hose and provides water directly to plant module 4without the use of water module 2. Inlet aperture 62 may attach tofaucet head (not shown). As shown in FIG. 18, water flows into inletaperture 62 in direction indicated by arrow A and is directed aroundseat 64 in direction indicated by arrow B. Water then flows throughinner channel 66 and out of water pressure regulator 60 through outletaperture 68 in direction indicated by arrow C. Outlet aperture 68 may beattached to conduit 70. Water flows through conduit 70 and attachedconnector 20. which may be attached to plant module 4. Water pressureregulator 60 may have aperture 74 to attach fertilizer bottle 72.Fertilizer bottle 72 may detachably connect to regulator 60 via aperture74 and steadily supplement the water flowing through inner channel 66with liquid fertilizer at a proportioned rate.

Numerous additional modifications and variations of the presentdisclosure are possible in view of the above teachings. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, thepresent disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically describedherein.

1. A system for modular gardening, comprising: a water module comprisinga reservoir coupled to an aperture such that water in the reservoirflows out the water module via the aperture; and a plant modulecomprising: a housing having an aperture arranged to transfer water withanother module and further having an open region on a top surface of thehousing; a first conduit within the housing coupling the aperture and aregulator; a second conduit coupled to the regulator, the second conduitproviding water to one or more water absorbent layers arranged atop thefirst conduit; and plant life at least partially embedded in at leastone of the one or more water absorbent layers and receiving lightthrough the open region, wherein the second conduit is at leastsemi-porous tubing.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein theregulator includes a float that floats in water and forms a seal with aninner aperture of the regulator preventing flow of water from the firstconduit to the second conduit when sufficient water is present.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more absorbent layers include afirst matting, a secondary matting, and a pillow.
 5. The system of claim4, wherein the pillow contains the secondary matting, hydrogel granules,and seeds.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the pillow is inside awater-absorbent package having a re-sealable lid.
 7. The system of claim6, wherein the water-absorbent package is removably arranged within theplant module.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the waterabsorbent layers are removably arranged within the plant module.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1, where the plant module further comprises anotherfirst conduit coupling the regulator to another aperture of the plantmodule.
 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a connectorconfigured to couple to and permit the flow of water between the watermodule aperture and the plant module aperture.
 11. A system for modulargardening including a plant module comprising: a housing having anaperture arranged to transfer water with another module and furtherhaving an open region on a top surface of the housing; a first conduitwithin the housing coupling the aperture and a regulator; a secondconduit coupled to the regulator, the second conduit providing water toone or more water absorbent layers arranged atop the first conduit; andplant life at least partially embedded in at least one of the one ormore water absorbent layers and receiving light through the open region,wherein the regulator includes a float that floats in water and forms aseal with an inner aperture of the regulator preventing flow of waterfrom the first conduit to the second conduit when sufficient water ispresent.
 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: a water modulehaving a reservoir coupled to an aperture such that water in thereservoir flows out the water module via the aperture.
 13. (canceled)14. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more absorbent layersinclude a first matting, a secondary matting, and a pillow.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the pillow contains the secondary matting,hydrogel granules, and seeds.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein thepillow is inside a water-absorbent package having a re-sealable lid. 17.The system of claim 16 wherein the water-absorbent package is removablyarranged within the plant module.
 18. The system of claim 11, whereinone or more of the water absorbent layers are removably arranged withinthe plant module.
 19. The system of claim 11, where the plant modulefurther comprises another first conduit coupling the regulator toanother aperture of the plant module.
 20. The system of claim 11,further comprising a connector configured to couple to and permit theflow of water between the water module aperture and the plant moduleaperture.
 21. A system for modular gardening including a plant modulecomprising: a housing having an aperture arranged to transfer water withanother module, the housing further having an open region on a topsurface of the housing; a first conduit within the housing coupling theaperture and a regulator; a second conduit coupled to the regulator at aposition lower than the first conduit, such that water flows from thefirst conduit through the regulator to the second conduit, the secondconduit providing water to one or more water absorbent layers arrangedatop the first conduit; and plant life at least partially embedded in atleast one of the one or more water absorbent layers and receiving lightthrough the open region, wherein the second conduit is at leastsemi-porous tubing and wherein the one or more absorbent layers arrangedincludes capillary matting.
 22. The system of claim 21, furthercomprising: a water module having a reservoir coupled to a water moduleaperture, the water module aperture coupled to a conduit coupled to thehousing aperture of the plant module such that water in the reservoirflows from the water module to the plant module.